Did you know that Nevada is making free prenatal care available to more low-income women?

In 2005, Assembly Majority Leader Barbara Buckley led the effort to enact Assembly Bill 493, a bill that expanded eligibility for Nevada's Medicaid prenatal care program.  She noted that "lower-income working women often cannot afford medical checkups during pregnancy. . . and that the change would lead to healthier babies and lower hospital emergency room costs."  By July of 2006, an additional 400 women were expected to qualify for prenatal care benefits because the previous income ceiling of $1, 061 dollars per month was raised to $1,511.  State officials estimate that by fiscal year 2008, approximately 2,100 additional women will qualify for prenatal benefits under the program.

Cy Ryan, Medicaid to Expand For Pregnant Women, Las Vegas Sun, June 16, 2006.  A.B. 493, 2005 Leg., 72nd Sess. (Nv. 2005).